Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 861

Plum Blossom Island buzzed with activity, merchants creating a lively scene every day.

Even when Hwasan first established Plum Blossom Island, it was quite large. As time passed, it grew even bigger. Now, even the largest merchant groups couldn’t compare in size.

This was expected, as Plum Blossom Island controlled almost all trade between Gangnam and Gangbuk, two important regions.

Whether the powerful factions fought or just glared at each other, people still needed to eat and buy clothes.

Merchants from Gangbuk wanting to sell goods in Gangnam, and those from Gangnam wanting to buy from Gangbuk, all used Plum Blossom Island. Now, even ten ships could barely handle all the business.

A gruff voice grumbled, “Why did we bother being bandits? We could have made easy money like this all along!”

Another voice, laced with worry, asked, “But will this good luck last?”

“First Elder,” a younger voice teased, “you always see the dark side of things.”

The First Elder sighed, “Old ways are fading. The Green Forest isn’t as respected as it used to be.” He remembered days of daring raids, not escorting merchants.

“Respect won’t fill your belly,” someone retorted sharply. “Just do the job and stop complaining.”

A low grunt of agreement rumbled from the shadows.

“What about the preparations?”

“Almost done. But should we really be doing this? We’re the Green Forest. The Green Forest escorting merchants…”

“If it makes us money, why not? We used to take tolls anyway, right?”

“Still, there are principles…”

“You have to change to survive.”

Im So-byeong grinned.

As the less honorable groups became bolder, even those passing through Plum Blossom Island for trade suffered losses. Big merchant groups could hire guards, but it was hard for smaller ones.

So, they planned to gather the merchant groups crossing Plum Blossom Island into ship-based trading groups, with the Green Forest providing protection.

“If this works, more money will come in. Too many guys are just lazing around because they can’t even be bandits these days. I can’t miss a chance to make money using those loafers, can I?”

“Won’t there be complaints?”

“Just make an example of a few, and the rest will disappear.”

Hearing those calm words, the First Elder swallowed hard.

He laughed it off, but at times like this, he truly felt that this man was the Green Forest King at heart.

“Then Plum Blossom Island will become even more successful.”

“It’s just a temporary boost until the Four Evil Sects get out of control.”

“So what? We just have to make as much as possible before that happens. Do you know how much money we’re making each day right now?”

“That’s why we’re complaining. We’re doing all the work, but only getting a small part of the money, aren’t we?”

“How foolish. If we did this alone, do you think merchants would even come near Plum Blossom Island? They trust us because of Hwasan and the Mount Heaven Alliance. And if we had taken Plum Blossom Island by ourselves, do you think the Surochae and Maninbang bastards would have stood by?”

The First Elder sighed deeply.

“I know… I understand. But they’re making money too easily. We could take a little more than we are now…”

“First Elder.”

Im So-byeong’s voice turned cold. The First Elder straightened up.

“I-I’m sorry, Green Forest King.”

“Do you know why people die?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“It’s because they get too greedy. Like that guy who sank to the bottom of the river today.”

“…”

“I want to believe you’re not that stupid.”

“T-That’s obvious.”

“You’re a bandit, so you’ll be a little greedy. But… there are things you shouldn’t touch.”

Cold sweat ran down the First Elder’s back.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“It’s good to do everything in moderation.”

Im So-byeong smiled again.

“However…”

He looked out the window at the majestic river and Plum Blossom Island.

“I don’t know how long we can keep doing this, as you said.”

The situation was getting worse.

The plum blossoms on Plum Blossom Island caught his eye.

“Plum Blossom Island isn’t just named for the plum blossoms, but for the plum blossom-like people…”

A faint longing flickered in his eyes. He sighed and said,

“Anyway, hurry up. If Plum Blossom Island is a mess when the Chief returns, you and I will be swimming in the river.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say.”

“It was hard to manage before, but now…”

Im So-byeong shook his head, not wanting to imagine it.

“Terrible. Ugh, terrible.”

The First Elder noticed a strange smile on Im So-byeong’s lips as he pretended to be distressed.

“We’re in a good situation, compared to those running around stressed out.”

“That’s true.”

“So, let’s not complain. If that person hears us, they’ll try to stick a poisoned needle in our foreheads.”

Anger flashed across the First Elder’s face.

“Those guys are too cocky.”

“First Elder.”

“I’m not just talking about my feelings. The children are very unhappy.”

“Hoo.”

Im So-byeong pressed his forehead with a fan, as if he had a headache.

“Tell them to calm down.”

“But…”

“I know. That’s why I’m saying it.”

“Yes, Green Forest King.”

The First Elder bowed deeply.

“Then.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

After he left, Im So-byeong looked out the window again, his face hardened.

‘Is this the limit?’

Everything seemed fine, but Im So-byeong felt the cracks within more than anyone else.

‘Hwasan’s absence is too much.’

Im So-byeong and Tang Gunak were doing their best to hold things together. But if this continued, the Mount Heaven Alliance would fall apart.

If it weren’t for Hwasan, the Green Forest and the Dang family would never have been working together.

“You’re too slow. Tsk.”

Im So-byeong sighed as he looked at the thin plum tree.

“Please hurry, Chief. I’m at my limit too.”

His voice was too quiet to reach distant Shanxi.

“Reporting in.”

Tang Gunak, sitting in the upper seat, nodded silently.

Tang Gun-ak would usually receive reports in his office at the Sichuan Tang Clan. But today, he was in a large room in a different house.

Tang Gun-ak sat at the head of the table. His face was stern.

People who knew Tang Gun-ak well could see he was even more serious than usual.

“Lord, another fight between the Demonic Faction, groups known for their dark magic, and the Orthodox Faction, who follow traditional martial arts, has occurred in Liu’an,” Tang Pae reported.

Tang Gun-ak frowned slightly. “Again…?”

“Yes, Lord. It seems this time it might spread further.”

Tang Gun-ak slowly tapped the table with his fingers. He didn’t show it much, but the noise showed he was worried.

Tang Pae watched him carefully, sighed softly, and said, “Since Liu’an is in Anhui Province, the Namgung Clan should help solve the problem, but…”

The Namgung Clan was still secluded, like they had locked their doors.

They hadn’t officially announced it, but it was as if they had. The only difference was that the Namgung Clan didn’t refuse visitors. They were hardly doing anything outside their clan anymore.

In the past, the Demonic Faction would never have dared to fight the Orthodox Faction in Anhui, especially near Hefei, where the Namgung Clan lived.

But the world was very different now.

“We won’t find answers by waiting for those who aren’t here,” Tang Gun-ak said.

“That is correct, Lord.”

“Send someone to help solve the problem.”

“…They are very strong now, Lord. It doesn’t seem like talking will work.”

“Then send our martial forces to stop them, even if we have to use force.”

“Yes, I understand, Lord.”

Tang Pae sighed again.

Even though the Namgung Clan wasn’t doing much, Anhui was still their territory. Sending martial forces there was a sensitive issue.

But they couldn’t worry about such things right now.

‘Things are moving too fast,’ Tang Gun-ak thought.

The world had changed too much.

Most noticeably, many Demonic Factions, which used to be in Jiangnan, had moved to Jiangbei.

These Demonic Factions clashed with both the Orthodox Factions and the Demonic Factions already living in Jiangbei.

If the Demonic Factions wanted to settle in Jiangbei, they should have respected the rules already there. They should have been careful. But would the Demonic Faction ever do that?

“…We should have stopped them sooner,” Tang Gun-ak said.

“It couldn’t be helped, Lord.”

Tang Gun-ak shook his head, looking serious.

He hadn’t stopped the Demonic Factions from moving to Jiangbei for a simple reason.

“How can we stop people who are just trying to live? Even if they are the Demonic Faction, they are still people.”

“…That is true, Lord, but…”

If they had come to invade Jiangbei, he would have stopped them. But the Demonic Factions weren’t trying to conquer Jiangbei. They were just trying to survive.

The Evil Paragon Alliance, which had taken over Jiangnan, demanded complete obedience.

Either join the Evil Paragon Alliance, or be destroyed.

Most of the Demonic Factions joined, and some resisted and died.

The rest fled to Jiangbei.

“I understand their situation… But shouldn’t they at least stay quiet?” Tang Pae asked.

Tang Gun-ak shook his head again.

Martial artists can’t grow their own food. If they can’t control land and take money from it, they are just beggars with swords.

So, the Demonic Factions in Jiangbei had to try to take land to survive.

“In any case, we must protect the common people from harm,” Tang Gun-ak said.

“I will do so, Lord.”

“What else?”

Tang Pae watched Tang Gun-ak carefully and then said, “Lord, just in the last month, we’ve had to step in at least seven times. Big fights and small troubles.”

“Seven times?” Tang Gun-ak repeated.

“Yes, Lord. Before, we’d see maybe two incidents a year. This is too much for us alone.”

“I know it is,” Tang Gun-ak said.

The Demonic Factions were trying to take over Hubei and Anhui.

They hadn’t been able to do much there in the past because the Wudang and Namgung Clans controlled those areas.

But now that those two clans were secluded, the Demonic Factions saw an opportunity. There was plenty to take, but no one to stop them.

The normal families and small martial arts groups couldn’t handle them alone. So, the Tang Clan had to run around trying to fix things.

“How long can we keep doing this, Lord?” Tang Pae asked.

“For the Alliance,” Tang Gun-ak said. “For our promise.”

“I understand, Lord,” Tang Pae said. “But people in the clan are talking. They’re not happy. This ‘Alliance’ – where are the Wild Beast Palace and the Ice Palace? Hidden away! We are doing all the work.”

Tang Gun-ak didn’t say anything, just looked at the table.

“Mount Hua started this whole thing, but we are the ones cleaning up the mess! Even the Green Forest Bandits are doing more than the others! There’s talk, Lord. Whispers that we should never have come to Jiangbei if all we were going to do was lose money and get worn out.”

Tang Pae bit his lip. “And… I miss Sichuan, Lord. It’s been years. Why is it always us?”

“Enough,” Tang Gun-ak said.

“Lord.”

“If we only cared about money, we wouldn’t be here. Do you want to become greedy merchants?”

“No, Lord.”

“And,” Tang Gun-ak said sternly.

“We are not the ones having the hardest time right now. It is Mount Hua.”

“…”

“Let’s try to keep going a little longer,” Tang Gun-ak said.

“I understand, Lord.”

“Good. You may leave.”

“Yes, Lord.”

As soon as Tang Pae left, Tang Gun-ak sighed deeply.

‘This is not easy,’ he thought.

The world was becoming more and more difficult.

The Evil Paragon Alliance had finished taking over Jiangnan and was now reorganizing. As soon as they were done, they could invade Jiangbei at any time. Knowing this, the chaos in Jiangbei was growing. Everyone was probably feeling the same way, facing an unavoidable war.

In this situation, the major clans that should have been helping to stabilize Jiangbei were all secluded, leaving a big void.

It wasn’t easy for the Tang Clan to fill that void.

Moreover…

Even things that would have been easily solved in the past were now becoming big problems. The complaints from within the Tang Clan were getting louder.

Tang Gun-ak rubbed his eyes.

‘It’s been a thousand days. Do we still need more time?’ he wondered.

Tang Gun-ak looked exhausted. He realized he had limits. How could he manage the Thousand Rain Alliance when he couldn’t even control the problems within his own clan?

He sighed deeply and looked north.

‘Dojang,’ Tang Gun-ak whispered.

“Please hurry a little more. Just a little.”

In that place, which would soon smell of plum blossoms, there was still no news.